Slumgullion

Well, I’ve never been to Spain, but I kinda like Big Star music. As posted by Posies founding member Jon Auer on Instagram and Big Star on Facebook, the Spanish concert promoter Houston Party Music will celebrate its 25th Anniversary by presenting the four-day The Music Of Big Star Tour. Original member Jody Stephens will perform, along with Mike Mills from R.E.M.; Chris Stamey from The dB’s; Auer; and Pat Sansone from Wilco. The Sadies will be special guests as the tour visits Barcelona, Madrid, Gijón, and Valencia.

The Eyes Have It  - All-Star Line-up Of Chicago’s Finest Songwriters will celebrate the musical vision of Michael Teach this Sunday at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side. Teach is the co-founder of the original music podcast Chicago Acoustic Underground. Performers will includes Phil Angotti; Ellis Clark and Ary Jeebie; Eric Chial; Jenny and Robin Bienemann; The Barb and Barrett Show; The Menards; and whitewolfsonicprincess. The tribute starts at 5:00 pm.

MOJO has reached its 30th Anniversary with the November 2023 issue, and celebrates with feature stories on some of the biggest artists it has covered in that span. The spotlight shines on The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Paul Weller, Kate Bush, White Stripes, Wilco, Brian Wilson, Amy Winehouse, Leonard Cohen, David Bowie, Taylor Swift, and others. I’ve been subscribing to this totally cool U.K. magazine for at least three years because it’s become increasingly hard to find it in American retail outlets.

The November MOJO also mentions that guitarist-vocalist Nancy Wilson recently informed the American classic rock station WBAB that she and Ann Wilson have been working on a new Heart album inspired by their 1970s releases.

The Spindles, Vinyl Idols, and Go Time! will combine for an evening of catchy rock at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side tomorrow night.

Rolling Stones fans in Chicago can celebrate Keith Richards’ birthday a few days early when Androgynous Mustache presents Keith Richards 80th BDay Bash at Reggies with Phil Angotti And The Naughty Neighbors on December 15. The guitarist’s birthday is actually December 18, but I’m sure Keith would prefer people party in his honor during the weekend.

Leg Three of Depeche Mode’s Memento Mori Tour brings them to the United Center in Chicago this Monday, November 13.

A soon to be released album titled The Faithful - A Tribute To Marianne Faithful on the In The Q record label aims to help the renowned vocalist deal with complications from Long COVID. Several artists have donated their time to the project by covering songs originally done by Faithful. The double album will include performances by Tracy Bonham; Tanya Donelly & the Parkington Sisters; Josie Cotton; Cat Power & Iggy Pop; Shirley Manson & Peaches; Bush Tetras; Joan As Police Woman; Lydia Lunch; and Donita Sparks. The Faithful will be available on streaming sites December 8, and is currently available for pre-order on the In The Q website.

TV station WTTW is the lead sponsor for CICFF40 - FACETS’ 40th Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, which runs through November 19 at Facets on Chicago’s north side. The festival includes animation, live-action, and documentaries for ages 2 through 18.

The Chicago-based seven-piece Talking Heads tribute band Start Making Sense is performing tonight and tomorrow night at Martyrs' on Lincoln Avenue this.

Fest For Beatles Fans, the annual convention run by Mark Lapidos and his family, will celebrate its 50th Anniversary at the TWA Hotel in New York City on the weekend of February 9 – 11, 2024. As noted in an official email, the TWA Hotel is located at the JFK Airport, which is where The Beatles first touched down in America back in 1964. A five-day ticket pre-sale for Fest For Beatles Fans - NYC kicked off today and will run through November 13. Special Guests for the event include Patti Boyd; Billy J. Kramer; Laurence Juber; Gregg Bissonette; and Steve Holley. Fest For Beatles Fans promises more guests and surprises will be announced soon.

 

The Music On Stage presentation of Plaid Tidings - A Special Holiday Edition Of Forever Plaid opens at Cutting Hall in Palatine tomorrow night and will run through November 26.

Earlier this week, indie rock performer Juniper released a video for her new single “I Was Thinking Of You.” Like several of the tracks on her most recent album She Steals Candy, it’s a likably off-kilter reflection on romance. “I Was Thinking Of You” available to download on her Bandcamp page.

 

Push Puppets, a band that hails from my hometown of Palatine, will be showcasing songs from their Allegory Grey album at Hey Nonny in nearby Arlington Heights next Friday, November 17. The band’s catchy indie rock songs have drawn comparisons to Wilco, and I also hear a bit of Paisley Underground on the tracks “Sometimes The Buds Never Flower” and “There’s No One Like Lynette.” 

Chris Pellnat, a Hudson, NY singer-songwriter who proclaims he “can’t really sing but I do it anyway,” on his Bandcamp page, has released a fun new single titled “Billie Eilish Won’t Follow Me.” Pellnat's clever lyrics and catchy arrangement guarantee success regardless of what he thinks of his vocal ability.

Have yourself a funny little Christmas. Cast member Desiree Burcum’s Judy Garland inspired title character will once again host Famous In The Future’s A Judy Christmas holiday revue on the weekend of December 15 – 17 at The Den Theatre. The comedy group, which I was a member of for several years, will likely offer a mix of skits and songs.

The new documentary The Stones And Brian Jones from Magnolia Pictures and award-winning British director Nick Broomfield has a general release date of November 17 at theaters and for home viewing. The 93-minute Stones And Brian Jones features interviews with numerous musicians and previously unseen archival footage. 

Following the success of her authentically gritty cover of  The Rolling Stones’ “Street Fighting Man,” singer-guitarist Carla Olson takes a completely different approach on the next single from her Have Harmony, Will Travel 3 album. Written by Hollies founding member Allan Clarke, “It Makes Me Cry” is a country style ballad rich with heartfelt observations on human nature. It features Clarke playing harmonica and combining with Olson for the heartfelt vocals. Laurence Juber, the former Paul McCartney and Wings member, embellishes “It Makes Me Cry” with his lead guitar playing.

I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Laurence Juber perform on a few occasions at Fest For Beatles Fans - Chicago. It sure would be great to see Allan Clarke perform at one of those Fest events.

Music For Mars: Liquid Soul Featuring Mars Williams, a multi-artist event taking place at Metro in Chicago on November 25, will honor and support the critically acclaimed jazz saxophone player. Proceeds will benefit him through the Mars Williams Medical Treatment Cancer Fund. In addition to Liquid Soul, the entertainment will include The Joe Marcinek Band and Jesse De La Pena. While Williams has impeccable jazz credentials, many rock fans first became aware of him via his work with The Psychedelic Furs. So it’s fitting that Richard Butler, Zachary Alford and Rich Good from that group will be on hand at Metro. Other special guests will include Jeff Coffin from The Dave Matthews Band; Richard Fortus from Guns N’ Roses; and Ike Reilly. Tickets are $30 in advance,  $35 on the day of the event, and there’s a $150 table for two options.

Juliana Hatfield Sings ELO, the indie musician’s Electric Light Orchestra tribute album, will be released next Friday, November 17 in CD, vinyl, cassette, and digital formats.

The 29th Annual Black Harvest Film Festival opened last Friday, and will offer feature-length films, shorts programs, and discussions through November 16. The festival takes place at the Gene Siskel Film Center in downtown Chicago.

The Zombies are holding their first annual Begin Here Festival in their home town St. Albans in the U.K. this weekend, and will use the occasion to launch their own museum.

Six Stories Up In The Attic, the latest production from Tellin’ Tales Theatre, opened last weekend at the Filament Theatre on Chicago’s north side, and returns this weekend. The Chicago-based theatre group’s mission is “to shatter barriers between the disabled & non-disabled worlds.”

The Minus 5 will perform A Birthday Celebration For Neil Young featuring the music from his years on the Reprise record label next Wednesday, November 15 at the Mississippi Studios venue in Portland, Oregon. Special guests will include Debbi Peterson from The Bangles, Steve Barton from Translator, and Jenny Conlee from The Decemberists.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s new tropical take on William Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night—complete with Bob Marley and Sting songs—has drawn enthusiastic reviews from Sheri Flanders in the Chicago Sun-Times and Chris Jones in the Chicago Tribune. In addition to the cast and set design, both critics praised director Tyrone Phillips for the breezy ambience he’s brought to the production. Twelfth Night runs through November 26 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier.

Pete Townshend and director Des McAnuff will bring their The Who’s Tommy to the Nederlander Theatre in New York next March.

The Mercury Theater’s production of Young Frankenstein has been garnering positive reviews. Chris Jones in the Chicago Tribune particularly liked Ryan Stajmiger as Igor and Andrew MacNaughton as the Monster. The production runs Wednesday through Sunday until December 31.

Joni Mitchell has released a new box set titled Archives Vol. 3 - The Asylum Years (1972 – 1975) in 5-CD and 4-LP formats.

Liz Phair’s Guyville Tour will arrive at the Chicago Theatre on November 18. Phair is celebrating the 30th Anniversary of her groundbreaking Exile In Guyville.